Doorknob



June 10, 193.0. E. w. LOWES 1,762,447

DOORKNOB Fi1ed June 11, 1928 fly. 1'?

I III I In A //v VEN 70/? Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ERNEST W.LOWES, OF HARLEY, ONTARIO, CANADA.

DOORKNOB Application filed June 11, 1928, Serial No. 284,449, and. inCanada June 8, 1928.

This present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a doorknob and has for its primary object the provision of an improvedconstruction which will make 1 it possible to readily observe the exactlocation of the door knob in the dark.

Another object of the invention resides in theprovision of a door knobof the character stated which is specially designed for use on the doorsof motor vehicles and the like but is constructed in such a manner thatit may be employed on various doors, windows or the like.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a doorknob of the character stated which includes a luminous member held inthe body of the handle to clearly disclose in the dark the exactlocation of the door handle.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of adoor knob of the character stated which includes a body portion having atransparent member secured therein and having a phosphorous coating or acoated member co-operating therewith and a designating character topermit ready location of the door knob in the dark, without theassistance of any means of illumination.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects, as will becomeapparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly describedwhen refer- 403 ence is had to the drawings forming a part of thisdisclosure, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved door knob;

Figure 2 is an elevation, looking at the opposite or inner side of thedoor knob and showing the shank in section;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the door knob,with part of the shank shown in elevation; and

Figure 4 is an elevation of the closure plate for the rear side of thedoor knob.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it is to be noted that, thedoor knob includes an elongated main portion 6, from the rear side ofwhich extends laterally the shank 7, near one end of the body 6 andwhich shank 7 is shown as having its outer face concaved longitudinallyto provide the narrow central portion, the shank 7 terminating in anannular beaded end 9 for engagement against the door surface 10, thusspacing the body (5, from the door surface, so as to be readily graspedand operated by one hand without danger of interference by the doorface.

The body 6 has an elongated central opening 11 in which is positionedthe transparent member 12 formed of unbreakable glass or the like with abevelled edge 13 engaged against a similar wall 14 at the outer portionof the opening 11. The transparent member 12 has a phosphorous coating15 on its inner face or a similarly treated member engaged against itsinner face and a designating character 16 such as a letter, monogram orthe like on one face or within the transparent member 12. A washer orcushion member 17 is engaged with the rear face of the transparentmember 12, along the edge thereof and is pressed against the member 12by the thick body portion 18 of the closure plate 19 which is positionedin the rear side of the opening 11. and has a comparatively thin edge 20engaged against the rear face of the body 6 around the opening 11. Theend extensions 21 of the dos ure plate 19 having fastening members 22extending therethrough and into the body 6 to firmly hold the closuremember 19 in closed position. The body 6 also has a shallow recess 23 inits rear face around the opening 11 to accommodate the thin edge 20 ofthe closure member 19 and thus bring the rear or outer face of theclosure member 19 flush with the rear face of the body 6, the same asthe outer face of the transparent member 12 is flush with the outer faceof the body 6. It is also to be understood that the transparent member12 and the closure member 19 are both finished on their outer faces toconform to the shape or curvature of the respective faces of the body 6,with which they are flush.

As the construction of the device has,:thus been described in detail,brief reference is now had to its use and modus operandi: Thetransparent member 12 is placed in the opening' 11, the washerl? engagedagainst the inner side thereof, the closure plate 19 inserted in theopening 11 against the washer l7 and the securing members 22 tightenedin position, thus resulting in a firm holding of the transparent member12 in position in the outer portion of the opening 11. Owing to themember 12 being transparent and the inner face thereof or a memberengaged with the same being provided with the phosphorous coating, theexact location of the door knob can be readily determined in the dark,without the assistance of any means of illumination and the darker it isaround the door, the more clearly can be seen the door knob; Thecharacter 16 may also serve to identify the owner of the motor vehiclehav ing such a knob 011 the door thereof. All of the parts of the doorknob may be readily assembled or taken apart and cleaned and replacedreadily and without the necessity of employing a special mechanic.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be manifest that a door knob is provided that willfulfill all the necessary requirements of such a device, but as manychanges could be made in the above description, and many apparentlywidely different embodiments of my invention may be constructed withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit orscope thereof, it is intended that all ma tters contained in the saidaccompanying specification and drawings, shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limited sense.

-Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is A door knob including a transverselyelongated body with the main portion thereof offset laterally from thesupporting shank for said body and provided with an opening extendingthrough said main portion and opening on the opposite faces thereof withthe wall of said opening bevelled toward one. of said faces; a memberwithin said opening for disclosing in the dark the location of saidhandle; a closure plate within said opening and opposed to said member;1

said member and said closure plate having their outer faces flush withthe opposite faces of said body on which the opening opens and the outerfaces of said member and said. clowas sure plate conforming respectivelyto the configuration of the faces of said body with which they register;said closure plate having reduced extended edges extending past the edgeof the opening in said body for attachment to the face of the body withwhich the outer face of said closure plate registers; said lastmentioned face of the body having a shallow countersunk recess toreceive the extended portions of said closure plate; and means forspacing apart the opposed faces of said member and said closure platewithin the opening in which they are removably positioned.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ERNEST w. LOWES. [Ls]

